Debt Is Not My Friend

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know by now that I really don't like debt. I didn't realize this until I got out of college and got married. Before then I was still living with my parents and debt didn't seem like much of a problem. But once I got married and all those bills started coming in month after month, I knew that me and debt were not going to be friends. In fact I would go so far as to say we are mortal enemies.

Lets look at 5 reasons why debt is not your friend.

1. Debt promotes discontent - If you have to go out and borrow to get the things that you want, it means you're not content with the things you have. The things God has given you. It also means you're not content with your income. It makes you impatient. Why save for something, when you can charge it? When things come easy, its easy to get dissatisfied with them quickly. Then you move on to the next toy you think will satisfy you.

2. Debt takes your future money and gives it to creditors - Instead of using your future money to invest in your future, you'll be using it to pay for things you've long since forgot about. And you have no choice in the matter. You can't say I'm not going to put money toward my debt anymore. You're stuck, until that debt is paid in full.

3. Debt makes assumptions about the future - Debt says, even though I don't have the money to pay for this now, I will down the line. Unless you're one of those phony fortune tellers, you can't see the future. Who's to say that money will be there in the future. What if you get in an accident? Or what if your company lays you off? Finding a new job is no guarantee in our current economy.

4. Debt makes you a slave - Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the servant to the lender". When you're under a load of debt, you're in bondage. You have no way out but to work off that debt. And it could take a very long time.

5. Debt limits your options - This is the number one reason debt will never be my friend. Because of debt you get stuck in jobs and careers you hate. Forget about following your dreams, your dreams won't pay enough for you to survive. Wives like mine, who want to be stay at home moms are unable to. Some people stop giving to the church because of debt. The list goes on and on.

I would love to kick the crap out of debt, wouldn't you? That's why my wife and I are saving every penny we make so we can throw it at our debts. Debt is like the mother-in-law who said she needed a place to stay for a week, and here it is 3 years later and you still can't convince her to move out. Its time we take back our lives, and kick debt out.

What are some reasons debt isn't your friend?